“Did I miss anything exciting?” I asked.
“Wyatt hasn’t been talking to any ghosts lately; that’s newsworthy. Claude’s been working on another case, so he’s been busy with aclient,” she said, an audible pout in her voice. “I’m glad I finally have someone to talk to. Why don’t we have a sleepover tonight and I’ll show you my room?”
I hadn’t been in anyone’s bedroom aside from Christian’s. Stepping inside someone’s private domain was an invitation for them to come into mine, and people need personal space. That was why we socialized in Wyatt’s room or the game rooms. However, I could sense Gem’s eagerness to have fun, and I liked her. Gem was a good-hearted girl with a lot of spirit. She had a knack for bringing out the kid in me, and it was refreshing to be around someone that genuine.
“I can’t tonight,” I said. “I have a date.”
A hurried sound of rubber pounding against the stone floor closed in on me from behind as she caught up and matched my pace. “Are you serious?”
“Detective Glass will be coming by to pick me up.”
When we reached the second floor, she skated beside me. “Where’s he taking you?”
“I have no earthly idea.”
She maneuvered in front of me and began skating backward. “You better wear a dress just in case. And I don’t mean that slutty one you love so much.”
I snorted. “What’s wrong with my lucky black dress?”
Her arms floated, making her look like a fairy as the air ruffled her violet locks in front of her face. “It’s not… romantic.”
“You’re starting to make me nervous. If he wants to go out with me, then he needs to appreciate the total package.”
She dropped her arms to her sides. “How would you feel if he showed up in Bermuda shorts and a Hawaiian shirt? And exactly what makes that dress so lucky?”
I didn’t bother answering. That dress was entrapment—luring men to their inevitable death. Maybe that wasn’t the best impression to make on a first date.
I did a double take when I walked by a recessed wall and saw Niko sitting in a chair, listening to music from a tiny portable music player. His eyes were closed, but he must have sensed our energy passing by and lifted his hand in a wave.
“Niko?”
“Shhh,” Gem said, frantically waving me forward.
I continued walking until he was out of sight. “Why’s he wearing a pink shirt?”
Niko had an all-black wardrobe, and when I’d asked him about it, he explained it was easier for him to get dressed without mismatching colors.
Gem gave me an impish grin and stumbled over a crevice in the floor, almost losing her balance. “Niko thinks all his shirts are black. He refuses to wear color, so I snuck two shirts in there to brighten up his wardrobe. Nobody says anything because we all get a kick out of it.”
“What’s the other shirt?”
“A rainbow, but he never accidentally puts that one on. It’s always fun when he wears the pink one and we try to get him out of the house. Too bad you were gone this morning. Wyatt and I took him out for donuts.”
We reached Wyatt’s game room, and Gem spun around in a circle before making a dramatic entrance. “Delivery girl!”
Wyatt was sitting in one of the beanbag chairs, legs spread, playing a video game.
“Whatisthat?” I asked.
“Grand Theft Auto.”
“Do you have solitaire on there?”
Wyatt glared over the beanbag. “Seriously? What century did you pop out of?” His eyes skated down. “Is that what I think it is?”
I held up the laptop. “Claude isn’t the only one in this house with magic fingers.”
He dropped his game controller and excitedly got up. “Give it to the master.”
